Parnitha is a mountain range 35 kilometres north of Athens, the capital of Greece. The highest peak of the range is Mt Karabola, which is 1,413 metres above sea level and is the highest mountain in Attica. Up to a height of about 1000 metres, the slopes of the range are mostly covered with dense pine forests (mostly Allepian pine), above 1000 metres they are mostly Kefalinian fir (Greek fir), various shrubs and grasses. In total there are about 1000 species of various plants, including some quite rare ones. Parnitha is also home to more than 40 species of mammals and about 120 species of birds. A large part of the ridge has had the status of National Park of Greece since 1961.
Parnitha is famous for its fantastic natural landscapes and incredibly beautiful scenery and is rightly considered one of the most beautiful parts of Greece. Nature lovers and lovers of the outdoors will find many hiking trails of varying difficulty levels, and Parnitha also offers a lot of opportunities for mountaineering enthusiasts.
Among the natural attractions of Parnita should be noted separately picturesque lake Beletsi (near the town of Afidnes), gorges Gouras and Keladonas, as well as the cave of Pan, which got its name because of the sanctuary of the ancient Greek god Pan, with many beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.
However, Parnita is not only nature, but also interesting historical and architectural monuments, among which the fortress of Fili, the monastery of Clayston (13th century), the monastery of Agia Kyprianou and the church of Agia Triada deserve special attention. Gambling enthusiasts should definitely check out the Mont Parnassus Casino.
